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Deal & Walmer Angling Association

2017 Competition Results and Reports (archived)

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Secretary: Mr. Douglas Pettit
Hon. Treasurer: Mrs S. Pettit
108 Blenheim Road
Deal, Kent CT14 7EY
Telephone 01304 365617
Email pettitsandou@aol.com

Founded in 1904
- and -
Affiliated with the Angling Trust

2017 Competition Dates
Venue Sat Nav Date Time
Horsa Road (groynes): HW 19:30 51.231428, 1.404148 Sunday, 8th January 5pm to 9pm
Chequers: HW 17:30 51.251010, 1.39189 Sunday, 5th February 3pm to 7pm
Cambridge Road (gardens): HW 15:50 51.210211, 1.402760 Sunday, 5th March 2pm to 6pm
Hythe (Imperial Hotel - flatfish only): HW 15:15 51.06768, 1.09396 Sunday, 2nd April 1pm to 5pm
Sandwich Bay (10th Green): HW 21.50 51.26345, 1.39016 Sunday, 23rd April 5pm to 9pm
Deal Pier (promenade deck): HW 20.20 51.223707, 1.404842 Sunday, 21st May 5pm to 9pm
Sandown Castle: HW 18.20 51.238577, 1.402298 Sunday, 18th June 4pm to 8pm
Cambridge Road (gardens - sole only): HW 22.15 51.210211, 1.402760 Saturday, 19th August 8pm to midnight
Walmer Castle (top car park): LW 17.10 51.202032, 1.402374 Sunday, 3rd September 3pm to 7pm
Chequers: HW 21:00 51.251010, 1.39189 Sunday, 1st October 5pm to 9pm
Cambridge Road (gardens): HW 18.20 51.210211, 1.402760 Sunday, 29th October 4pm to 8pm
Walmer Castle (top car park): HW 18.25 51.202032, 1.402374 Sunday, 12th November 4pm to 8pm
Horsa Road (groynes - Xmas match): HW 16.20 51.231428, 1.404148 Sunday, 10th December 2pm to 6pm

D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 10th December 2017

Report by Doug Petit

This was the Club's last match of the year and, being the Christmas 'no-points comp', there were plenty of prizes for the members to fish for with a total of 13 meat vouchers, Xmas hampers and prize money being on offer. Despite the appalling sea and weather conditions (force 7 onshore winds and driving rain), sizeable fish in good numbers were caught from the north Deal venue with dabs, whiting and the ubiquitous dogfish making up the competitors' bags. The Xmas comp winners were:

  1. Tom Wells (8.720 kg)
  2. Tim Fagg (5.750 kg)
  3. Luke Hutton (5.630 kg)

The heaviest fish was a dogfish of 0.720 kg caught by Tom Wells and the heaviest flat - a dab weighing 0.120kg - was landed by Ken Withington.

After the weigh-in the competitors squelched their way to the Deal Rowing Club where they received their prize money and hampers following which I presented the annual medals of the 2017 campaign to the Club's points winners. In first place with 500 points was Luke Hutton, narrowly beating Steve Swan by 3 points. Dave Chamberlain came third in the Club's championship with 455 points in a hard-fished year of matches. Heaviest round and flat fish caught in the 2017 campaign were, respectively, Mark Wilkie's 0.890 kg dogfish (23 April) and Julian Attwood's 0.520 kg plaice (2 April).

Thanks were given to the officers and committee who organised these competitions and for all those who have helped in the pegging, weigh-in and running of the 2017 campaign.

I wish you all the best of luck in 2018 and a Happy Christmas.


D&WAA members-only Xmas competition

Report by Doug Petit

The D&WAA members-only Xmas competition (entry fee £15) is to be held at Horsa Road (groynes) 51.231428, 1.404148 on Sunday, 10th December (2pm to 6pm). Competitors should be present at the Horsa Road venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 1:30pm. The Club's annual prize-giving takes place after the match at Deal, Walmer and Kingsdown Amateur Rowing Club, The Marina, Deal CT14 6NG. Prizes will include meat vouchers, hampers and golden peg prizes drawn for those attending the presentation at the Rowing Club after the match. The prize giving will also include medals and prizes to be awarded to the points winners of the 2017 competition campaign. The bar will be open and there will be a raffle, donations to which will be greatly appreciated.

View the detailed match results and final leaderboard for the 2017 campaign here.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 12th November 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

Winter has arrived with a vengeance, heralded by a very cold northwesterly wind straight from the Arctic and gusting gale force at times. Weather and sea conditions made fishing difficult and hard work with the heavy sea rising well past the high water mark two hours into the match. Thankfully there were enough fish to keep the 13 anglers active and almost get into a sweat with the action. As expected, it was the whiting that predominated with them throwing themselves onto the hook three at a time. Everybody weighed in and nobody had less than twenty plus fish. However, in the words of Izaak Walton (1594 - 1683) "He who catcheth the dogfishes, wineth the contest", and that proved to be the outcome. Tim Fagg won with 8.170 kg (18 lb ¼ oz). Second place went to Alan Fuller, whose bag of 7.610 kg (16 lb 12½ oz) included the heaviest flat, a dab of 0.200 kg (7 oz), and heaviest fish, a dog weighing 0.750 kg (1 lb 10½ oz). In third spot was Steve Swan with 6.180 kg (13 lb 10 oz).

The 2017 competition campaign medal winners are:

  1. Luke Hutton (500 points)
  2. Steve Swan (497 points)
  3. Dave Chamberlain (455 points)

The heaviest match-caught fish medals go to:

The D&WAA members-only Xmas competition (entry fee £15) is to be held at Horsa Road (groynes) 51.231428, 1.404148 on Sunday, 10th December (2pm to 6pm) and competitors should be present at the Horsa Road venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 1:30pm. The Club's annual prize-giving takes place after the match at Deal, Walmer and Kingsdown Amateur Rowing Club, The Marina, Deal CT14 6NG. Prizes will include meat vouchers, hampers and golden peg prizes drawn for those attending the presentation at the Rowing Club after the match. The prize giving will also include medals and prizes to be awarded to the points winners of the 2017 competition campaign. The bar will be open and there will be a raffle, donations to which will be greatly appreciated.

View the detailed match results and final leaderboard for the 2017 campaign here.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 29th October 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

15 members fished in a chilly north wind which had created plenty of splash alongshore. Weed was not too much of a problem providing the rod tip was kept high as most of it was on the surf line. No tide as such and the fish were not that frequent. A smattering of dogs and whiting made up the main bags, although undersized were a pain. The winner was Mark Wilkie with 4.410 kg and John Green second with three dogs and ten whiting for 3.300 kg. Kevin Scott's bag of dogs put him in third place with 2.910 kg. Heaviest fish and flat were shared between Steve Swan and John Green for 0.850 kg.

The twelfth and final D&WAA members-only competition of the 2017 campaign (the Xmas match being 'pointless') is to be held at Walmer Castle (top car park) on Sunday, 12th November (4pm to 8pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at Walmer Castle (top car park) no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 3:30pm.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 29th October 2017

The eleventh D&WAA members-only competition of the 2017 campaign is to be held at Cambridge Road (gardens) (51.210211, 1.402760) on Sunday, 29th October (4pm to 8pm). Please remember that

The updated match leader-board can be viewed here.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 1st October 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

It was on a dark and stormy night that 13 men donned their oil skins and walked to the beach. No, not an epic from a lifeboat save … just another night's competition fishing. Maybe a little dramatic, but it was dark and it did rain and there was a fresh breeze which normally would have kept me indoors. The fishing was patchy although a variety of species were caught from dogs (mainly) to whiting, pouting, sole, dabs, flounder and even an undersized conger eel.

Top weight came from Brian Smith with 3.110 kg (6 lb 13¾ oz), followed by his son Louie with 2.800 kg (6 lb 2¾ oz), which included the heaviest flat at 0.280 kg (9¾ oz). Fred Leach was third for 2.690 kg (5 lb 13¾ oz) and Pat Green had the heaviest fish, a dog of 0.880 kg (1 lb 15 oz).

View the detailed match results and (revised) updated leaderboard here.

The eleventh D&WAA members-only competition of the 2017 campaign is to be held at Cambridge Road (gardens) (51.210211, 1.402760) on Sunday, 29th October (4pm to 8pm). Please remember that all competitors must be present at the Cambridge Road (gardens) venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 3:30pm.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 3rd September 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

September can be a dodgy month for catching fish. It is an in-between month for summer fish leaving and autumn fish arriving. This year's clear seas and warm waters have been a boon for mackerel but made daylight fishing on the beach a nightmare. Today's match was held over the low water and on the ebb tide, and with this combination, it was hoped there would be some colour in the sea. Not to be, and the only real winners of today's match were the crabs - the bait disappeared within 10 minutes of splash-down.

However, Luke Hutton did find a dogfish (0.860 kg) on the first cast and followed up with another (0.790 kg) just before the end of the four hour competition. His weight of 1.650 kg (3 lb 10¼ oz) thrashed the rest of us into submission. The only other sizable fish was a 0.210 kg (7½ oz) wrasse caught by Martin Jenkins. Third place was shared with two undersize plaice of 20 cm landed by Andy Manning and John Green. Roll on October!

View the detailed match results and (revised) updated leaderboard here.

The tenth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2017 campaign is to be held at Chequers (51.251010, 1.39189) on Sunday, 1st October (5pm to 9pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at the Chequers venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 4:30pm.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Saturday, 19th August 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

Conditions were almost perfect for this comp, with a decreasing, light, westerly wind and a calm, warm moonless night. However, we did not count on the copious quantity of weed which emerged from somewhere. It started at the beginning of the flood tide and did not let up throughout the match.

Just before darkness in the 8pm-till-midnight session two plaice and a flounder were landed. As the night went on it looked like there was not going to be any soles caught. In fact it was almost impossible to leave the bait out much longer than 5 minutes before the rod tip swung round with a mass of weed on the line. Eventually, at 11pm Kevin Scott found a 27 cm (0.180 kg - 6⅓ oz) sole attached to his rag-baited hook. At the weigh-in he took first prize with Julian Attwood in second with a flounder and Andy Manning third with a plaice.

Apart from the flats there were some eels and dogs caught which were not eligible for the weigh in. Ten anglers fished.

View the detailed match results and (revised) updated leaderboard here.

The ninth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2017 campaign is to be held at Walmer Castle (top car park) on Sunday, 3rd September (3pm to 7pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at Walmer Castle (top car park) no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 2:30pm.


D&WAA 'sole-only' competition

Saturday, 19th August 2017

The eighth of the D&WAA members-only 2017 competitions takes place at Cambridge Road (gardens) (51.210211, 1.402760) on Saturday, 19th August (8pm to midnight). Please remember that all competitors must be present at the Cambridge Road (gardens) venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 7:30pm. This match is "flatfish-only (sole)" the rules for which can be viewed here. As with the corresponding match last year, faced with few fish or 'gruelling conditions' (!) the Club may make some 'running repairs' to the rules on match day so that the prize money can be paid out. If no soles are caught, then other fish - regardless of size - will count under a modified 'measure and return' system … but please check with the organisers on the night.

To book bait call Fred Leach (Channel Angling: 01304 373104).

Current local sea temperatures: inshore (beach and Pier) 17.8°C, offshore (Downs) 18.6°C.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 18th June 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

When organising the following year's club matches it is impossible to forecast the weather for each match day. However, the latest D&WAA competition took place on the hottest day of the year on a popular holidaymaker beach. Why do kids scream so much when they are enjoying themselves in the sea, when the serious angler (me) is trying to concentrate on getting a bite? If any of them were drowning nobody would have been any the wiser (and I might have got away with it). Why is it that if you're on the beach, then it is compulsory to have a barbeque and a beer? Do none of these people realise that there are anglers (me) who are trying to cut back on the booze (founder AA member) and are on a diet? Then there are the dog walkers (allowed on the beach north of Sandown Castle), whose animals have a liking for squid and sand eels … let's hope you can get the stains out of your carpet today madam!

As it can be seen with these constructive criticisms (rant) I spent four hours without so much as a nibble - although I was not alone as ten out of the fourteen competitors also drew a blank. This reminds me, a 12 foot, half submerged canoe floated past in the middle of the match opposite my rod. This attracted a gang of ten-year-olds on a salvage job which made the raising of the 'Mary Rose' look amateur (mental note to self - make another appointment for counselling).

Back to the fishing. Louie Smith won the match with two dogs for 1.180 kg (2 lb 9½ oz), followed by Luke Hutton with one dog weighing 0.780 kg (1 lb 11½ oz) and Steve Swan's single dog for 0.650 kg (1 lb 7 oz). As can be seen, Luke had the largest fish and Steve second heaviest by default as no flats were caught. The other competitor to weigh in was Mark Wilkie with a gurnard weighing 0.210 kg (7½ oz).

The next person who moans about catching too many whiting in autumn will be strangled by me - and I will get away with it as my psychiatrist sectioned me a while ago! Thinking about it, the other nine anglers who spent between £20 and £50 on bait and entry fees - and blanked, could also benefit from such professional help.

Results

The updated match leader-board can be viewed here.

The eighth of the D&WAA members-only 2017 competitions takes place at Cambridge Road (gardens) (51.210211, 1.402760) on Saturday, 19th August (8pm to midnight). Please remember that all competitors must be present at the Cambridge Road (gardens) venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 7:30pm. This match is "flatfish-only (sole)" the rules for which can be viewed here. As with the corresponding match last year, faced with few fish or 'gruelling conditions' (!) the Club may make some 'running repairs' to the rules on match day so that the prize money can be paid out. If no soles are caught, then other fish - regardless of size - will count under a modified 'measure and return' system.

Current local sea temperatures: inshore (beach and Pier) 15.6°C, offshore (Downs) 18°C.


D&WAA Pier Competition: Sunday, 21st May 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

The Deal & Walmer Angling Association held an evening Pier match on Sunday which attracted an entry of 17. Fishing up to darkness saw the proverbial dogfish showing, although numbers were down due to the sea clearing of colour. The fishing was difficult and a third of the competitors failed to weigh in. Winner was Richard Yates who topped up his three fish with a double shot of dogs on his last cast. Yates' five dogs went 2.980 kg beating Steve Swan's five dogfish for 2.144 kg. In third place was Martin Jenkins with 1.800 kg and he also had the heaviest fish of the match, a dog at 0.720 kg. No flatfish having been caught, Tim Fagg's 0.700 kg dogfish took the second heaviest round fish award.

The seventh D&WAA members-only competition of the 2017 campaign is to be held at Sandown Castle on Sunday, 18th June (4pm to 8pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at Sandown Castle no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 3:30pm.

The match leader-board is published here.



D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 23rd April 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

Fishing from Sandwich Bay estate, the expected rays never showed and the fishing was very patchy. Dogfish were thin on the ground as well, which brought the expected weights down. Steve Swan had a triple shot but only managed to put another in his bucket for the rest of the match. A few dabs and whiting were mixed in, but it was dogs that won the event. Andy Manning had the most fish with 6 for 3.100 kg just beating Martin Jenkins' 5 for 2.770 kg. Heaviest fish was dog of 0.890 kg landed by Mark Wilkie and heaviest flat, a dab of 0.150 kg, caught by Brian Smith. In third place was Steve Swan with 2.440 kg. There were 18 competitors who fished the four hour match on a rising tide.

The sixth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2017 campaign is to be held at Deal Pier (promenade deck) on Sunday, 21st May (5pm to 9pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at Deal Pier Approach no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 4:30pm.

For those who need an incentive, the match leader-board is published here …


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 2nd April 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

For a change the club had an away-day comp from our local grounds. As it was a flatfish-only match, the productive beach at Hythe was the venue. Out of the 17 entries only one failed to weigh-in. Although sport was not hectic, plaice did put in an appearance along with dabs and a flounder. Black lug and ragworm seemed to be the best baits which were producing most of the fish.

Steve Swan managed to catch the most flats with six; and on his second-to-last cast managed the heaviest plaice of 0.590 kg. His total weight of 1.320 kg was enough to beat Dave Andrews' 1.040 kg into second place. Junior Henry Thomas found a hot spot and put 0.920 kg onto the scales for third spot. Catching the second heaviest plaice at 0.520 kg and coming fourth with 0.740 kg was Julian Attwood.

A pleasant day, with good weather and a calm sea for the 'Jolly Boys' outing.

View the detailed match results and (revised) updated leaderboard here.

The fifth of the D&WAA members-only 2017 competitions takes place at Sandwich Bay (10th Green) (51.259633, 1.391961), a 5 minute walk (0.3 miles) south of the Sandwich Bay Sailing & Water-ski Club slipway at Cambridge Avenue, Sandwich Bay, Kent CT13 9PU (51.26345, 1.39016) on Sunday, 23rd April (5pm to 9pm). Please remember that all competitors must be present at the Sandwich Bay (10th Green) venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 4:30pm.

Current local sea temperatures: inshore (beach and Pier) 9.4°C, offshore (Downs) 9.8°C.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 5th March 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

Competitors in Sunday's Deal & Walmer Angling Association beach match were diverted from Walmer Gardens to north Deal because of adverse weather conditions. With a fresh south to south-westerly wind and rain it was decided that the change of venue would be more comfortable to fish. It did not put off the 18 entrants as they fished the rising tide sheltered behind brollies and bivvys. Winner with three dogs and a couple of whiting for 2.010 kg was Alan Underdown. Close behind him with six fish - which included the heaviest fish in the match, a dog of 0.900 kg - was Dave Andrews, for a total weight of 1.930 kg. Graham King's three dogs at 1.320 kg landed him third position. As no flats were caught, Underdown took the pool with the second heaviest fish which was a dog of 0.680 kg.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The fourth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2017 campaign is to be held at Hythe (Imperial Hotel) 51.06768, 1.09396 on Sunday, 2nd April (1pm to 5pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at the Hythe venue (i.e. in the car park located at the junction of the Marine and Princes Parades opposite the Hythe Imperial 4-star hotel and Twiss Groyne - see Google Maps link above) no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. 12:30pm. This match:


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 5th February 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

The weather forecasters got it wrong, yet again, when Storm Doris made its non appearance. Members of the Deal & Walmer Angling Association were hoping that it might have brought about some fish in its aftermath. Their combined daylight and darkness match, in Sandwich Bay, was held at the weekend from 3pm till 7pm. Even with the cold north east wind the comp attracted 19 members who realised the conditions would be hard with not many fish showing. However, their perseverance paid off with dabs, whiting and rockling for Steve Swan to find the winning weight of 0.550 kg. Second and third places went to Martin Jenkins' 0.430 kg and Dave Andrews' 0.310 kg.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The third of the D&WAA members-only 2017 competitions takes place at Cambridge Road (gardens) (51.210211, 1.402760) on Sunday, 5th March (2pm to 6pm). Please remember that all competitors must be present at the Cambridge Road (gardens) venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 1:30pm.

Current local sea temperatures: inshore (beach and Pier) 7.2°C, offshore (Downs) 6.9°C.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 8th January 2017

Report by Dave Chamberlain

The first D&WAA beach match of the year fished from north Deal and attracted 19 anglers. Conditions were good with a light wind and high water just before 8pm. Target species were whiting with dogs to make up the weight. The sea temperature has not cooled enough to put the fish on the feed and triple shots were the name of the game, although getting sizable fish was hard. Dabs made a good show and were in equal numbers to sizable whiting. A few dogs made up the weights for the winners with Sam Collier's total of 3.670 kg, which included the heaviest dog of 0.880 kg, taking first place. In second and third place, respectively, were Steve Swan with 2.990 kg and Brian Smith with 2.290 kg. The heaviest flat was a 30 cm dab caught by Steve Hackett which weighed 0.260 kg.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The second of the D&WAA members-only 2017 competitions takes place at Chequers (51.251010, 1.39189) on Sunday, 5th February (3pm to 7pm). Please remember that all competitors must be present at the Chequers venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 2:30pm.


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